News Release

Olympic National Park Fire Update- September 22

Date: September 22, 2023
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 360-565-3005

Port Angeles, Wash. – Although smoke production was high, today’s fire activity was moderate. The Delabarre and Low Divide fires saw marginal increases in acreage. The Mt Queets fire acreage increased due to improved mapping data. 

Fire activity is expected to diminish through the weekend. Weather reports predict some wetting rain, thunder, and strong winds. Fire crews will shift locations to minimize the risk of tree falls. 

Fire crews continued to focus on infrastructure protection today. Along with efforts to protect cabins and trail infrastructure, crews moved into the Buckinghorse area to protect the SNOTEL site. 
 

Fire Name	Initial Report	Estimated Size as of 9/22	Location
Hurricane	8/28/23	4 acres	2,000 ft below Hurricane Ridge parking area
Eagle Point	8/28/23	123 acres	~5 miles out Obstruction Point Road
Diamond Mountain	9/1/23	30 acres	3.3 miles NE of   Anderson Pass
Low Divide	9/1/23	332 acres	2 miles SW of Low Divide
Delabarre	9/1/23	4088 acres	3 miles SE of Mount Christie
Martins Lake	9/2/23	108 acres	2 miles NE of Mount Christie
Mount Queets	9/14/23	7 acres	Summit of Mount Queets

 

Fire is an integral part of the forested ecosystems on the Olympic Peninsula; plants and animals here have evolved with fire for thousands of years. Many factors such as weather, topography, and vegetation influence fire behavior and the effects that fires have on natural resources. 

Background Information 

All seven active fires in Olympic National Park ignited when a series of lightning strikes occurred on the Olympic Peninsula in the afternoon on August 28.  

Closures

Due to wildfire activity the following closures are in effect until further notice: 

• Elwha River Trail from Whiskey Bend Trailhead to Low Divide
• Bailey Range Traverse beyond Cat Basin
• Long Ridge Trail to Dodger Point
• Hayden Pass Trail
• Dosewallips River Trail from Dose Meadows to Hayden Pass
• Dodger Point Way Trail
• North Fork Quinault Trail from Elip Creek trail junction to Low Divide
• Skyline Trail from Elip Creek Trail junction to Low Divide
• Martin Park Trail
• Obstruction Point Road and Trailhead

Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center (WIC) will be notifying backcountry permit holders who may be impacted by this closure. Any permit holders who plan to backpack in the above impacted areas should contact the WIC at 360-565-2992 or by emailing [e-mail]. 
 

Weather and Fire Behavior 

Fire activity is expected to diminish through the weekend. Weather reports predict light rain will become heavy rain and may be accompanied by thunder and strong winds. By Sunday, the chance of a wetting rain event is 100%.  
 

Information for the 2023 Olympic National Park Lightning Fires can be found at: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/waolp-2023-olympic-national-park-lightning-fires  
 

Olympic National Park information: www.nps.gov/olym 
Olympic National Forest information: www.fs.usda.gov/olympic
 State and county area burn bans: https://ecology.wa.gov/Air-Climate/Air-quality/Smoke-fire/Burn-bans 

--NPS--